Concrete road joint strip installer

ABSTRACT

As disclosed a concrete cleavage implement is carried on a road building machine substantially centrally of the road being formed to travel down the centerline of the road at a suitable depth below concrete form level, such implement having guide means therein adapted to receive a joint strip from a continuous source of supply on the machine at an elevation above the implement and redirect the strip vertically flatwise out of the rear end of the implement and into the centerline groove in the concrete formed at least partially by the cleavage implement. The invention is also applicable to the installing of transverse joint.

United States Patent 3,194,130 7/1965 Guntert 3,269,282 8/1966 Beesley........................

ABSTRACT: As disclosed a concrete cleavage implement is carried on a road building machine substantially centrally of the road being formed to travel down the centerline of the road at a suitable depth below concrete form level, such implement having guide means therein adapted to receive a joint strip from a continuous source of supply on the machine at an elevation above the implement and redirectthe strip vertically flatwise out of the rear end of the implement and into the centerline groove in the concrete formed at least partially by the cleavage implement. The invention is also applicable to the installing of transverse joint.

PATENTEDSEP nan 3,503,222

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR ROBERT E. HELTZEL wmM mi-w TTORNEY5 PATENTEDSEP Hen 3.603222 SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR ROBERT E. HELTZEL NMWQTM CONCRETE ROAD JOINT STRIP INSTALLER The present invention relates to Concrete Road Joint Strip Installer and has for an object to provide an accessory to a concrete road building machine which enables accurate placement of a flexible joint strip in the concrete road under construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide ample storage on the machine for a supply of flexible joint-strip material whereby, particularly on the so-called formless pavers, which do not depend on side forms but carry their forms with them and are substantially continuously forward moving in normal operation to lay potentially one or more miles of road in a single day, to the end that the machine will not have to be halted in operation except at wide intervals for the renewal of joint strip material and the threading of the same through the joint installer.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the installer.

a novel form of strip guide mechanism insuring ease of passage of the strip. through the installer into the concrete and accuracy in the delivery of the strip in correct attitudeto and into the centerline or crossgroove in the concrete created to receive the same. 7

With the foregoingand other objects in'view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more par ticularly pointed out in the claimsappended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete road making machine equipped with a fonn of joint strip installing device constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a form of cleavage unit according to the invention taken on an enlarged scale with portions broken away and parts shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the unit with parts broken away and parts shown in section taken from the opposite side of the unit.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectionalview taken through a portion of the unit on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view; taken on an enlarged scale, of a form of oblique guide member forthe joint strip mounted in the cleavage unit.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are side elevational views of the guide member rotated at successive 90 positions, and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the head portion. of the guide member on the line Ill-10 of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings, 12 indicates generally a concrete road making machine traveling on wheels l3'and having-a rotary disc l4positioned and operating to remove aggregate from the line where the joint strip is to be located. 2

The joint strip, now usually-of plastic material, is stored on the machine 12 in any suitable manner, for instance wound volutely upon a reel l5 mounted forrotation upon a suitable axis pin, as shown in FIG. 1, and which will have suitable braking equipment to t prevent casual free rotation of the reel whereby the joint strip 19 willrb'e ten'sioned and will be pulled from'the reel only by the drag of that outer portion'of the joint strip which is already in place in. the groove in the concrete and -is anchored in place to start and held by the plastic concrete from both sides of the road naturally flowing toward the separation made in the concrete to receive the joint strip, once underway.

From the reel lithe joint strip, 19 may be led over a guide 16 affixed to the machine by which the joint strip may be carried downwardly to a second guide member 17 also mounted to an appropriate part of the framework of the machine, such guide member 17 being preferably disposed at an angle to the horizontal in a forward-rearward direction with'respect to the machine 12, whereby the lower run of thejoint strip 19 below porting the cleavage unit 20 which is substantially hollow and comprises a bottom wall 21, sidewalls 22 and 23, and a top wall 28.

The sidewalls 22 and 23 may be curved in a fore and aft direction in a manner to cause such sidewalls to come together in a front edge 24 and a rear edge 25 for facilitating the movement of the cleavage unit through the concrete.

At 26 and 27 are shown perforated upstanding tabs by which the cleavage unit is suspended from the frame of the road making machine and for this purpose these tabs may be removably or otherwise affixed to the lower ends of the hangers 18. The cleavage unit may be otherwise supported. v

The cleavage unit is closed by the top wall 28 to which the tabs 26 and 27 may be affixed. This top wall 28 also contains a top entrance opening 29 for the joint strip. The top entrance opening is closed by a removable cover 34 removablysecured to the top wall 28in any appropriate manner: for instance, at one end by the downwardly offset-latch tongue 35 (FIG. '3)

and a screw connection or other removable fastening at the other end of the removable cover 34 as hereinafter explained. An entrance guide tube 33 is erected on the I removable cover 34 which latter has an opening therethrou gh in align- As shown more particularly in FIG. 4,-the' horizontal i of the rear exit 30 is preferably substantiallywider than the thickness of the joint strip 19, this result being obtained by cutting back inwardly from the rear edge 25a distance inwardly of the sidewalls 22 and 23. This cutaway portion is only done at the lower part of the sidewalls 22- and 23 as the exitopening 30 is only as high as the width of the strip 19 and the cleavage unit is preferably of considerably greater height so that a considerable portion thereof will extend up higher than the upper portion of the rear exit 30. The purpose in having the cleavage unit higher than the separation in the concrete is to have the top wall 28 substantially above the concrete level so that no concrete will inadvertently spillover into the top entrance 29 should the cover 34 be removed at any time while the unit is actually in operative place within the concrete. The entrance tube 33 will make a tight fit with the cover 34 so as to avoid any entrance of plastic concrete at this area.

Flexible or preferably resilient flaps 31 and 32 are affixed to the surfaces of the sidewalls 22 and 23 for a distance forwardly of the rear exit 30. These flaps may be secured by adhesive or otherwise to the walls 22 and 23. The flaps are sufficiently long to extend out a distance back of the exit 30 as shown in FIG. 4.'Due to curvature of the walls 22 and 23, the outer free edges of the flaps 31 and 32 will come together in contact with opposite sides of the joint strip 19 as it issues outwardly into the concrete division. This arrangement provides elongated portions of these flaps 31 and 32 for engagement with the plastic concrete. As the plastic concrete tends to close together as the cleavage unit passes along the line of separa tion, the weight of the concrete willtend to press the flaps 3l and 32 tightly against opposite sides of the joint strip 19 thus having the effect to prevent any of the concrete from forcing its way back into the exit opening 30 and thus into the interior space of the unit. I

At the forward end of the cover 34 is an opening for a screw 36, and this opening is in alignment with althreaded socket 37 made in the upper portion of atop vertical section 38 of 'a diagonal guide spindle 39, which is arranged on an inclination within the interior of the cleavage unit. The lower end of this guide spindle 39 is cut off angularly and affixed bywelding or otherwise to the bottom wall 21 of the cleavage unit beneath the top entrance opening 29.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5 through inclusive, the guide spindle 39 has a curvilinear, preferably a cylindrical, outer surface for engagement by the joint strip 19.

At the upper portion of the guide spindle 39 is a spiral outstanding shoulder 41 having its uppermost portion adapted to first receive the upper edge of the joint strip 19 as the joint strip descends into engagement with the guide spindle 39. The shoulder 41 extends about the spindle 39 in a descending spiral with the lower end of the shoulder 41 being lowermost where the joint strip 19 leaves the guide spindle 39 on its way rearwardly to the rear exit opening 30.

Asshown in FIG. 10, the shoulder 41 is inclined upwardly and inwardly to effect a tendency of the joint strip upper edge to ride inwardly of the pin and thus effectually to guard against accidental escape of the upper edge of the joint strip from the spiral shoulder 41.

In the use of the device the strip will be pulled from the reel 15, trained over the guides 16 and 17 and then threaded through the entrance guide tube 33 before the guide tube and cover 34 are put in place. The joint strip is wound about the guide spindle 39 in the cleavage unit and drawn out through the rear exit opening 30. The cover plate 34 is then returned to place as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the screw 36 applied and secured in position in the socket 37. The device is thereupon ready for operation.

in the case of installing joint material longitudinally of the road along the centerline, the cleavage unit prevents the plastic concrete from flowing together until the joint strip is installed. The. joint strip issues out of the rear end of the cleavage unit and the plastic concrete immediately closes from opposite sides upon the strip and holds it firmly in place. A length of the joint strip 19 is initially pulled out manually through the flaps 3l and 32 and then anchored. Consequently, the forward movement of the machine with the cleavage unit will tend to'pull down the strip from its source of supply and cause the strip to continuously'move through the unit as the machine is driven down the roadway.

lit the form of device appearing in FIG. 3 the guide spindle is shown as inclined to the vertical in one direction and the entrance guide tube 33-is inclined to the vertical in an opposite direction. A potential geometric formula is indicated in H6. 3 in. which a vertical line is erected intersecting the axis of the guide spindle 39 in an angle b; while an angle a subtends the direction lines at which the joint material is paved on and off the spindle39. Generally speaking the value of angle a is double the value of angle b. For example, if angle b is 30, angle a will be 60; if angle b is 45, angle a will be 90.

These examples express ideal relationships but some variations would not be inoperative.

The device is equally useful in installing transverse joint strip material by mounting same on a device adapted to move across the road.

The chief purpose of the rotary cutter disc 14 is to displace large aggregate from the path of the cleavage unit.

Wheninitially the forward part of the joint strip is installed in the concrete, such concrete being plastic will close from opposite sides on the joint strip and anchor it effectively in the road and thus create a drag on the strip tending to draw the strip from the supply reel as the cleavage moves along the road. This action will be partially resisted by the tension on the reel 15. Thus, the joint strip will be fed through the cleavage unit under tension which will prevent looseness and in fact will develop a tension in the strip itself so that in effect the joint strip is installed under tension and at all times does not neces sarily contact the shoulder 41 but ordinarily maintains its position on the spindle 39 by reason of the angles of incidence to and departure from the spindle, so that balanced forces are maintained on the strip in moving toward and from the spindle. The arrangement of the spindle and introductory angle of the joint strip and creation of tension in the strip permits a change in direction of the joint strip material from an introductory angle to an installing angle without being subject to any outside forces which would tend to create scalloped edges in the joint material.

Thus, there is a working relationship between the angles a and b. Thus, changes in the inclination of the spindle 39 affect the value of the angle b in a direct sense and the value of a in an indirect sense and thus, the value of b is a function of the value of a. The greater the value of b (greater inclination of spindle 39 from the vertical) the more upright will be the tube 33 (greater value of angle a).

if required a vibrator may be applied to the supporting hangers 18 so as to impart vibration to the cleavage unit 23. Trowels may be carried by the cleavage unit directed rearwardly to smooth the slab and cover the strip 19.

What 1 claim is:

1. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation,

b. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, said guide means comprising c. a spindle set diagonally in the cleavage unit and having d. a spiral outstanding shoulder positioned to be engaged by the upper edge of the joint strip to guide the joint strip downwardly and rearwardly as it passes about the spindle.

2. An installing device for joint strip as claimed in claim 1 in which said shoulder e. inclines upwardly from its outer edge toward the center of the spindle.

3. Foruse with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation,

12. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint-strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, said guide means comprising c. a spindle set diagonally in the cleavage unit having a curvilinear surface about which the joint strip passes a cap extension on the spindle,

a cover for the top entrance, and

means for removably affixing the cover to the cap extension.

4. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. ahollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation,

. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, and

c. flexible flaps located at the sides of and rearwardly beyond the rear exit for bearing against the issuing joint strip.

5. An installing device for joint strip as claimed in claim 4 in which the flaps are resilient and biased to positions closing upon the emerging joint strip and adapted to be acted on by the plastic concrete to close tightly against the strip to effectively bar entrance of the plastic concrete into the hollow cleavage unit.

6. For use with a concreteroad making machine, an installing device forjoint strip comprising a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of thev plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation,

. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned a bottom wall having outwardly curved side edges substantially meeting in the ends of the bottom wall spaced curved sidewalls erected on the bottom wall and meeting at opposite ends of the unit, said guide means comprising a spindle affixed at its lower end to the bottom wall and inclining upwardly in a forward direction, and said cleavage unit further comprises f. a top wall through which said entrance is made,

g. a removable cover for the entrance, and g h. fastening means for the cover removably engaging the upper portion of the spindle.

7. In a concrete road joint strip installer,

a. a wholly enclosed cleavage unit having b. a joint strip exit opening at a rear portion thereof,

c. a joint strip introductory tube in communication with a supply of joint strip material and with the interior space of the unit through an upper portion thereof, said tube slanting downwardly in a forward direction and d. a joint strip guide spindle in the enclosed unit having a free curvilinear surface having its axis inclined oppositely to the inclination of the joint strip introductory tube whereby to receive the joint strip flatwise and deflect the joint strip vertically edgewise to the discharge opening. 

1. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation, b. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, said guide means comprising c. a spindle set diagonally in the cleavage unit and having d. a spiral outstanding shoulder positioned to be engaged by the upper edge of the joint strip to guide the joint strip downwardly and rearwardly as it passes about the spindle.
 2. An installing device for joint strip as claimed in claim 1 in which said shoulder e. inclines upwardly from its outer edge toward the center of the spindle.
 3. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation, b. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear Exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, said guide means comprising c. a spindle set diagonally in the cleavage unit having a curvilinear surface about which the joint strip passes d. a cap extension on the spindle, e. a cover for the top entrance, and f. means for removably affixing the cover to the cap extension.
 4. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation, b. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, and c. flexible flaps located at the sides of and rearwardly beyond the rear exit for bearing against the issuing joint strip.
 5. An installing device for joint strip as claimed in claim 4 in which the flaps are resilient and biased to positions closing upon the emerging joint strip and adapted to be acted on by the plastic concrete to close tightly against the strip to effectively bar entrance of the plastic concrete into the hollow cleavage unit.
 6. For use with a concrete road making machine, an installing device for joint strip comprising a. a hollow cleavage unit carried by the machine at an elevation to at least partly extend below the surface of the plastic concrete having a top entrance for the joint strip and a rear exit for the strip extending at least partially below road surface elevation, b. guide means for the strip in the cleavage unit positioned to receive the descending joint strip at one side and after passing at least partially about the guide means to redirect the joint strip out through the rear exit into the line of cleavage in the plastic concrete, the cleavage unit comprising c. a bottom wall having outwardly curved side edges substantially meeting in the ends of the bottom wall d. spaced curved sidewalls erected on the bottom wall and meeting at opposite ends of the unit, said guide means comprising e. a spindle affixed at its lower end to the bottom wall and inclining upwardly in a forward direction, and said cleavage unit further comprises f. a top wall through which said entrance is made, g. a removable cover for the entrance, and h. fastening means for the cover removably engaging the upper portion of the spindle.
 7. In a concrete road joint strip installer, a. a wholly enclosed cleavage unit having b. a joint strip exit opening at a rear portion thereof, c. a joint strip introductory tube in communication with a supply of joint strip material and with the interior space of the unit through an upper portion thereof, said tube slanting downwardly in a forward direction and d. a joint strip guide spindle in the enclosed unit having a free curvilinear surface having its axis inclined oppositely to the inclination of the joint strip introductory tube whereby to receive the joint strip flatwise and deflect the joint strip vertically edgewise to the discharge opening. 